Oliver Perry Dennis

Oliver Perry Dennis (August 25, 1858 – July 14, 1927) was an American architect. As co-founder of the architectural firm Dennis and Farwell, he designed many buildings in Los Angeles County, California, including the Hollywood Hotel, Janes House, and the Magic Castle. He also designed or co-designed several buildings in Tacoma, Washington.

Early life

Oliver Perry Dennis was born on August 25, 1858, in Delaware County, New York, to Oliver H. Dennis, a farmer, and Julia Ann Brumley. Julia died of paralysis sometime between 1880 and 1892, after which Oliver H. remarried and lived until at least 1899. Oliver P. had four brothers, two sisters, and at least two step-brothers.

From 1858 to at least 1865, Oliver P. lived with his family including his maternal grandmother. The family moved to Sanilac County in northeastern Michigan sometime between 1865 and 1870, and by 1875 moved again, this time to a Chautauqua, New York farm valued at $400 (equivalent to $11,453 in 2024).

Career

By 1880, Oliver P. was working as a carpenter. He worked as an architect in Tacoma, Washington from 1888 to 1901, with the majority of his work done in partnership with John G. Proctor. In 1896, he partnered with Lyman Farwell to create Dennis and Farwell in Los Angeles, California. In 1914, he once again worked on his own, and the following year he became partner at Dennis and Rasche. He went solo again in 1919.

Oliver P.'s most notable works were done during his time at Dennis and Farwell. These projects include:

Kimberly Crest, Redlands, 1897, National Register of Historic Places #96000328, California Historical Landmark #1019

Hollywood Hotel, Los Angeles, 1902
Janes House, Los Angeles, 1903, Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #227, contributing property in the Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District
Santa Ana Public Library #1, Santa Ana, 1903
Hollywood Art Center School, Los Angeles, 1904, Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #1202
Cline Residence, Los Angeles, 1906, Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #854
Rollin B. Lane House, Los Angeles, 1909, a near mirror duplicate of Kimberly Crest that later became the Magic Castle, Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #406

James R. Toberman House, Los Angeles, 1909, Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #769
Iowa Building, Los Angeles, 1910
Los Angeles Police Department Boyle Heights Station, Los Angeles, 1911-1912
Occidental College Hall of Letters, Los Angeles

Select Oliver Perry Dennis works in Washington include:

Hotel Bostwick, Tacoma, 1888–1889
Barlow-Catlin Building, Tacoma, 1889–1890
Western Washington Industrial Exposition Building, Tacoma, 1889–1891

Pierce County Courthouse, Tacoma, 1890–1893
Charles Marble House, Tacoma, 1892
Nelson Bennett House, Tacoma
Massasoit Hotel, Tacoma
Western Washington Hospital for the Insane

Additional select Oliver Perry Dennis works in California include:

Westlake Masonic Temple, Los Angeles, 1914
Ralph Huntsberger House, Los Angeles, 1914–1915
Vendome Street Apartment Building, Los Angeles, 1916
Rialto Theater, Los Angeles, 1916–1917
Florence Theater, Pasadena, 1917
Columbia Trust Building, Los Angeles
Archie Freeman House, Los Angeles
Loveland House, Los Angeles
Young Men's Christian Association South Broadway Building, Los Angeles
William T. Gould House, Beverly Hills
Naples Hotel, Long Beach

Personal life and death

Oliver P. married Rosella Miller on December 22, 1887, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They had two children together and divorced some time before 1910. Both children lived with their mother after the divorce.

Oliver P. died on July 14, 1927, and was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.